Device for teaching water skiers



v 11 F242. OR 3.390.658 SR "9 D. K. JELKS DEVICE FOR TEACHING WATER SKIER'S July 2, 1968 2 She ets-Sheet 1 E E Filed De c. 29. 1966 Donald K. Je/Irs INVENTOR.

I! M m BY all! July 2, 1968 D. K. JELKS 3,390,653

DEVICE FOR TEACHING WATER SKIERS Filed Dec. 29, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Donald K. Je/ks INVENTOR.

3,390,658 DEVICE FOR TEACHING WATER SKIERS Donald K. Jellrs, 1636 Challen Ave, Jacksonville, Fla. 32205 Filed Dec. 29, 1966, Ser. 1 o. 695,746 15 Claims. (Cl. 114-235) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A body to plane over the surface of a body of water at speeds at which persons may be readily taught to water ski and including a horizontally outwardly projecting stationarily supported elongated member provided with an outer end disposed above the associated body of water at an elevation adapted to be grasped by a person water skiing, the outer end of the elongated member being disposed outwardly of the wake area of said body adjacent a plane disposed normal to the longitudinal center line of said body and in which the rear of said body is disposed.

This invention relates to an apparatus which may be constructed as an integral portion of a boat, towed behind a boat by means of a suitable tow rope or bridle assembly, or pivotally secured to the rear end of a boat for oscillation about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the boat and which includes a horizontally directed handgrip portion adapted to be grasped by one or more water skiers.

In the form of the invention formed as an integral portion of or stationarily supported from a boat the horizontal hand-grip portion includes portions thereof elevated above an associated body of water, disposed rearwardly of the boat, and to one side of the wake area of the boat when the boat is moving at speeds suitable for the beginning skiers. Further, when the apparatus of the instant invention is formed as a water planing body to be towed behind a boat, the horizontally directed handgrip portion thereof includes portions elevated above the associated body of water and disposed outwardly of the wake areas The main object of this invention is to provide a device which will be capable of establishing a handgrip portion for water skiers relatively stationarily positioned in elevated position above an associated body of water and relative to a moving boat behind which beginning skiers are being pulled.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus including the aforementioned elevated handg-rip portions and means operable to vary the handgrip portions in elevation relative to an associated body of water.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumera-ted herein is to provide a device for teaching water skiers which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimeed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the instant invention shown in use being pulled behind a boat and having a skier holding on to the horizontally disposed handgrip portion thereofg FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on United States Patent 0 "ice somewhat of an enlarged scale taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the forward portion of a modified form of the invention illustrating a different manner of attaching the invention to a boat for towing behind the latter;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevationnl view of the assemblage illustrated in FIGURE 5 with portions of the boat being illustrated in vertical section; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear portion of a boat to which the present invention has been stationarily secured.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates any suitable conventional form of boat hull including a transom 12. The apparatus of the instant invention is generally referred to by the ref erence numeral 14 and is secured to the transom 12 for towing behind the boat hull 10 by means of a bridle assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 16 including a pair of bridle members 18.

The apparatus 14 includes a pair of elongated and generally parallel body members 20 suitably interconnected by means of a cross bracing assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 22 so as to form an integral planing body or hull structure.

Each of the body members 20 may be in the form of a hollow cylindrical member including a rounded forward end 24 and each of the cylindrical members may be filled with lightweight flotation such as foam plastic or be sealed against the entrance of water thereinto so as to be rendered buoyant.

The rounded forward ends 24 of the body members 2( include forwardly projecting elongated arms 26 which are disposed coaxial with the body members 20 and have their rear ends rigidly secured to the forward end portions 24 in any suitable manner. The forward ends of the arms 26 are provided with anchor portions 28 to which the apex portions 30 of the V-shaped bridle members 18 are secured. The free ends of the legs of each bridle member 13 are secured to the transom 12 by means of anchor assemblies or portions 32 carried by the transom 12.

The forward end portions of the body members 20 include forwardly and upwardly curving spray shields 34 which are secured at their rear ends to the forward undersurface portions of the body members 20 and at their upper ends to the arms 26 spaced distances forwardly of the forward ends 24, the arms 26 being secured through preformed openings 36 formed through the spray shields 34- in any convenient manner such as by welding 38.

The body members 20 includes longitudinally extending and downwardly projecting runner-s 40 and a handgrip assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 44 is carried by the upper portions of the body members 20.

The h-an-dgrip assembly 44 includes a pair of rearwardly and upwardly inclined tubular members 46 secured at their lower ends to the rear upper portions of the body members 20 in any convenient manner such as by welding 48. A transverse brace 50 extends between the lower ends of the tubular members 46 and is secured to the latter at its opposite ends by means of welding 52. A handgrip supporting tube 54 includes a pair of forwardly and downwardly inclined generally parallel extension arms 56 whose lower ends are telescoped downwardly into the upper ends of the tubular members 4d and suitable setscrews 58 are carried by the tubular members 46 for engagement with the extension arms 56 so as to retain the latter in adjusted extended positions. The handgrip support tube 54 has the adjacent ends of a pair of opposite side handgrip defining rods 60 telescoped into its opposite ends and includes setscrews 62 operative to engage the rods 60 and retain the latter in adjusted horizontally extended positions. Finally, the upper ends of the tubular members 45 are braced by means of forwardly and downwardly inclined brace members whose rear ends are secured to the upper ends of the tubular members 46 and whose forward ends are secured to the forward upper portions of the body members 20.

The rods 60 are disposed rearwardly of the rear ends of the body members 20 and are spaced vertically above the lower planing surfaces of the body members 20 at an elevation adapted to be grasped by a water skier being pulled behind the apparatus 14, the rods 60 being vertically adjustable by means of the adjustable telescopic connec tions of the extension arms 56 with the tubular members 46. The rods 60 may be horizontally extended as desired and thus the water skier 70 may grasp either rod 60 and be disposed outside of the wake area of the boat 10 and the ap aratus 14. Of course, if it is desirable for the water skier 70 to ski within the wake area, of the boat hull 10, he may grip the corresponding rod 6 at a point closer to the handgrip support tube 54.

lthough conventional water skis may be utilized by the skier 70 the skis 72 which the skier is wearing may be of hollow sealed construction enclosing a relatively large volume internal area for added buoyancy of the skis 72.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG- URES 5 and 6 of the drawings there may be seen a modified form of apparatus generally referred to by the reference numeral 14 whose body members 20 have pairs of apertured mounting lugs 21 secured to the end portions 24 thereof. A pivot shaft 25 extends transversely between the body members 20' and is rotatably journalled through both pairs of mounting lugs 21 and secured therethrough by means of suitable removable fasteners 27. When this modified form of the invention is used a boat hull 16 corresponding to the boat huil 10 may be used but a pair of apertured mounting lugs 29 are carried by and project rearwardly of the transom 12 of the boat 10. The apertured mounting lugs 29 are received between the lugs 21 of the corresponding pairs of lugs 21 and rotatably receive the opposite end portions of the pivot shaft 25 therethrough. In this manner, the apparatus 14' is pivotally secured to the rear end of the boat 10' for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG- URE 7 of the drawings there may be seen a still further modified form of apparatus generally referred to by the reference numeral 10" and including a pair of opposite side tubular members 46" corresponding to the tubular members 46 and which are secured to corner plates 4-7 at their lower ends secured across the corresponding rear corners of the associated boat hull 10". A handgrip supporting tube 54" corresponding to the tube 54 is provided and includes a pair of forwardly and downwardly inclined extension arms 56" which are telescoped into the upper ends of the tubular members 46" and secured in adjusted extended positions by means of setscrews 58" corresponding to the setscrews 58. The upper ends of the tubular members 46" are braced by means of substantially vertical bracing members 59 secured to the upper ends of the tubular members 46 at their upper ends and to the corresponding corner plates 47 at their lower ends. Of course, each end of the tube 54-" includes a setscrew 62" which is operable to retain a corresponding rod 63" in adjusted horizontally extended position.

The operation of the apparatuses 14' and 14" is of course substantially identical to the operation of the apparatus 14 as far as establishing a horizontally disposed and transversely extending handgrip elevated above the surface of the body of water at a predetermined height and which may be grasped by the water skier 74 By providing a horizontally disposed and transversely extending handgrip for a water skier relatively stationarily positioned at a predetermined height above the surface of an associated body of water, a water skier learning to ski is provided a relatively stable support which may be grasped to assist the beginning water skier to remain in an upright position. After a beginning water skier has developed some confidence, it is possible that he, before advancing to a conventional water ski towrope, could utilize an extremely short water ski towrope secured to one of the rods 60.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the inven tion as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A device for teaching water skiers, said device comprising a hull means adapted to plane over the surface of water and defining a longitudinal center line extending in the direction of intended movement of said hull means; an elongated and elevated horizontally directed arm member stationarily supported from and projecting outward] of at least one side of said hull means, the outwardly pro jecting portion of said arm member including an en 1 portion elevated relative to said hull means to be at i height above the surface of a body of water over which said body is planing adapted to be grasped by a watei skier skiing over said surface and disposed outwardly oi said one side of said body sufficicntly to enable a water k skier gripping an outer end portion of said arm member; ii to be disposed outwardly of the wake area formed by saici. body while the latter is moving at a speed suificient mi i plane the "water skier, said end portion also being disposedi adjacent a plane disposed normal to said center line and i which the rear of said hull means is disposed.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said end portion is supported from said hull means for adjustment transversely of the latter.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said arm member is supported from said hull means for vertical adjustment relative to the latter.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said end portion is supported from said hull means for adjustment transversely of the latter.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said arm member is disposed rearwardly of the rear end of said hull means.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said hull means comprises a self-propelled water planing boat hull.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said hull means comprises a buoyant body including means at its forward end adapted for securement to a self-propelled boat by towrope means.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein saidhullrn eans includdjil'dfifiitid liigitiidinally irtendingbuoyant. plan-j M ing body members secuged tpgether in transversely spaced d am. embe bein uppor ed m e r m 9. The com in a tion of claim 8 wherein said body members include forward end portions adapted for pivotal connection to the rear end of a boat for oscillation of said body member about a horizontal transverse axis relative to said boat.

10. The combination of claim 1 including a self-propelled boat having a rear end portion, and tension member means connected between the rear end portion of said boat and said hull means for pulling the latter over the surface of a body of water behind said boat, said outer end portion, when said boat and hull means are moving at a rate at least equal to said speed, being also disposed outwardly of the wake urea formed by said boat.

ii. A device for teaching water skiers, said device c0mprising a body adapted to plane over the surface of a body of water, said body including an elongated and elevated horizontally directed a-rm member projecting horizontally outwardly of at least one side of said body, the outwardly projecting portion of said arm member being elevated relative to said body so as to be at a height above the surface of a body of water over which said body is planing adapted to be grasped by a 'water skier skiing over said surface, said body including elongated longitudinally extending buoyant planing body members secured together in transversely spaced 'relation, said arm member being supported from rear portions of said body members, a self-propelled boat, and tension member means connected between the rear end portion of said boat and the forward ends of said body members for pulling said body over the surface of a 'body of Water behind said boat.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said outwardly projecting portion is supported from said body for adjustment transversely of the latter.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said arm member is supported from said body for vertical adjustment relative to the latter.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,738,525 3/ 1956 Roberts. 2,883,684- 4/1959 Correll. 2,899,925 8/ 1959 Meek. 3,043,259 7/ 1962. Sadler. 3,326,175 6/1967 Baker.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

MILTON BUCHLER, Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

